Ex-M&S boss who took High Street chain 'out of the doldrums' is hired as NHS ... trends now

A former M&S boss has been hired as an NHS productivity tsar after taking the High Street chain 'out of the doldrums'.

Health secretary Victoria Atkins said the 'stalwart' turned around its fortunes by 'embracing modernity' and is demanding the health service does the same.

Her department has hired Steve Rowe to ensure the NHS Productivity Plan, out later this year, 'improves care throughout England'.

It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a £3.4billion investment in NHS productivity during Wednesday's Budget.

In a keynote speech at the Nuffield Trust think tank's annual summit, Ms Atkins said the 'enormous amount of money' would be transformative.

It will be used to expand the use of AI, reduce paperwork for medics and improve access for patients.

A major project will involve AI listening in to doctors' appointments so it can automatically generate patient notes.

Ms Atkins said it will cut the time medics spend on admin, so they are free to see more patients.

She told the summit: 'We are standing on the cusp of a medical revolution, where technology, personalised therapies and better data can transform outcomes for a generation who are more health conscious than any that came before them.

'The NHS must seize this opportunity and look to the future, not restrict ourselves to what has always been done. In fact, it needs to have - to borrow a phrase - an M&S moment.

'This much loved British brand - a stalwart of our high streets for decades - realised that change was needed and embraced modernity, pivoting towards the next generation willing them over and securing its long term future.

'This is what the NHS needs to do to make sure it's there for the next 75 years.'